With the idea that no one can have too many web sites, I have discovered a new way to
display and record photos...I've posted those that have been previously here at my site into one concise place. http://maurietray.phanfare.com
This blog will remain my main "brain dump" for ideas and writings, when I'm not involved with novel writing, essays. Writing is taking more and more of my time and I love it! It is becoming more a part of my life and I'm finding it both a source of pleasure and comfort.
Kathleen Brehony says that in mid-life, those artistic parts of ourselves that we may have overlooked up until now, those dormant sides of ourselves that we push down so that we can get on with the "business" of life, emerge powerfully strong. She believes from her book, "Awakening at Midlife" that it is these strong, artistic and very vital qualities that render us hopelessly lost if we fail to recognize their power.
Over the past several weeks I have been working with some ideas about my writing. It is all very new and yet very old, too. I've been writing most of my life, just never really focused my efforts much. I have had to yield over the past few months to that calling, regardless if it leads me to a book deal or just leads me to myself, more whole and more at one with myself.
Saturday, June 04, 2005
Cinderella Man
Grabbed the late show last night with high expectations of the new Ron Howard film, "Cinderella Man" starring Russell Crowe, Renee Zelleweger and Paul Giamatti.
Ron Howard is a superb storytelling and creates a mood from the opening scenes. He seems to understand the role of music so very well. Often when I'm watching his films I notice the music as overall part of the experience, but it doesn't distract from the story itself. I think this subtelty is what makes Ron Howard's films so good -- he understands the importance of a subtle suggestion in a look, a gesture, an accent, a note.
Russell Crowe plays "Jim Braddock", a real life depression-era story of a boxer down on his luck. It's also a love story between Jim and his wife Mae (played by Rene Zelleweger). Finally, there are other supporting roles and relationships that fill out the film making it another -- what no doubt will be - -a box office hit. Crowe has made a career out of being the guy that everyone bets against (Gladiator, Master and Commander) and proves them wrong. His ability to look down trodden and beten wtih dignity are what make him one of Hollywood's most bankable actors.
Paul Giamatti, who plays Braddock's manager/trainer, is the real hero of this film. Masterfully, he creates the iconic image of the depression-era business man. Through Giamatti, Howard weaves the parallel images of two men, caught in the turmoil of the depression, living out their individual lives in the best way they know how. Giammati is one of those actors that you just want to get to know...his eyes give his performances soul and his ability to create the persona of Joe Gould particularly reels you in for the ride. In short, I think his performance is the best of those in the movie.
Howard also seems to understand the powerful connections between people and it is those relationships that give the story sustenance and power. The main characters are held in check, per se, by the strong performances of other characters who provide the life and the fabric of a life, in this scenario, the life of JimBraddock.
Overall, I was disappointed in this film. The trailer is superbly done and I walked into the theater expecting to laugh and cry and do all those things that movies do. I did a little of both but the film seemed to lose its timing somehow and I got lost a couple of times in all the hitting and punching.
I'd see the movie again on a rainy Sunday afternoon, cuddled in my easy chair just for to watch Giamatti at his craft.
Ron Howard is a superb storytelling and creates a mood from the opening scenes. He seems to understand the role of music so very well. Often when I'm watching his films I notice the music as overall part of the experience, but it doesn't distract from the story itself. I think this subtelty is what makes Ron Howard's films so good -- he understands the importance of a subtle suggestion in a look, a gesture, an accent, a note.
Russell Crowe plays "Jim Braddock", a real life depression-era story of a boxer down on his luck. It's also a love story between Jim and his wife Mae (played by Rene Zelleweger). Finally, there are other supporting roles and relationships that fill out the film making it another -- what no doubt will be - -a box office hit. Crowe has made a career out of being the guy that everyone bets against (Gladiator, Master and Commander) and proves them wrong. His ability to look down trodden and beten wtih dignity are what make him one of Hollywood's most bankable actors.
Paul Giamatti, who plays Braddock's manager/trainer, is the real hero of this film. Masterfully, he creates the iconic image of the depression-era business man. Through Giamatti, Howard weaves the parallel images of two men, caught in the turmoil of the depression, living out their individual lives in the best way they know how. Giammati is one of those actors that you just want to get to know...his eyes give his performances soul and his ability to create the persona of Joe Gould particularly reels you in for the ride. In short, I think his performance is the best of those in the movie.
Howard also seems to understand the powerful connections between people and it is those relationships that give the story sustenance and power. The main characters are held in check, per se, by the strong performances of other characters who provide the life and the fabric of a life, in this scenario, the life of JimBraddock.
Overall, I was disappointed in this film. The trailer is superbly done and I walked into the theater expecting to laugh and cry and do all those things that movies do. I did a little of both but the film seemed to lose its timing somehow and I got lost a couple of times in all the hitting and punching.
I'd see the movie again on a rainy Sunday afternoon, cuddled in my easy chair just for to watch Giamatti at his craft.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Slogger, Blogger
I've been chastized on two accounts for my lack of blogging. And they are are right to do so, for blogging is a way that I get into my writing, sort out ideas and basically think on paper.
There are two reasons why I've been a blog slacker...one -- I've been working on a new area of writing that is, learning how to develop characters. Since I am often referred to as a "character" then it would seem not a hard proposition for me to come up with some of my own. And actually that is true, I am finding it rewarding to think about what a character has for breakfast, how many tattoes they may or may not have, and what their ethnicity may be.
In fact, I'm finding it so rewarding that I've now created several characters and they have this little life that I've created for them. Their names will remain anonymous right now, because, who knows, I might change their names. What power a writer must wield, to create these entire realities simply by a few keystrokes and some ideas.
The other reason I've been a slacker on the blogging is simply this -- I've been working on what some might call my "real job" that is, finishing out a fiscal year end and starting a new. This always is somewhat of a reality check -- did certain goals get met? If so, why or why not? This requires a good deal of personal introspection and a good deal of personal honesty.
Now a "seasoned" veteran in the world of sales, I find that my goals and my aspirations are changing significantly. There are new reasons why I want to achieve certain things and there are old goals that, while they may be important, do not hold the same charm for me as they may have. I don't consider this failure...I consider this maturation.
I think what I'm talking about here is the idea that sucess -- and one's definition of it -- are constantly fluid, or should be. After all, when I was 7 I wanted to be Carol Burnett. Thank goodnes some goals and dreams do pass on! For there can only be one Carol Burnett, and I'm not here.
Which leads me to what I believe is a better definition of success -- at least for me. It has nothing to do with the scoreboard or how much money one can make. There must be more dimensions of success than those scoreboards. There must be more than a dollar figure put upon someone's worth to humanity and to those around them. At least, for me, I'm learning, there must be more to it than that.
I'm not saying that one should become a boehemian and live their life on the lam and shun all things material. This is not a "sour grapes" treatise that is replacing personal failure with some type of manifesto for better living. It is, I think, a mid-life correction that simply says, life is shorter now than ever and what you do with it matters. Or at least it should.
There are two reasons why I've been a blog slacker...one -- I've been working on a new area of writing that is, learning how to develop characters. Since I am often referred to as a "character" then it would seem not a hard proposition for me to come up with some of my own. And actually that is true, I am finding it rewarding to think about what a character has for breakfast, how many tattoes they may or may not have, and what their ethnicity may be.
In fact, I'm finding it so rewarding that I've now created several characters and they have this little life that I've created for them. Their names will remain anonymous right now, because, who knows, I might change their names. What power a writer must wield, to create these entire realities simply by a few keystrokes and some ideas.
The other reason I've been a slacker on the blogging is simply this -- I've been working on what some might call my "real job" that is, finishing out a fiscal year end and starting a new. This always is somewhat of a reality check -- did certain goals get met? If so, why or why not? This requires a good deal of personal introspection and a good deal of personal honesty.
Now a "seasoned" veteran in the world of sales, I find that my goals and my aspirations are changing significantly. There are new reasons why I want to achieve certain things and there are old goals that, while they may be important, do not hold the same charm for me as they may have. I don't consider this failure...I consider this maturation.
I think what I'm talking about here is the idea that sucess -- and one's definition of it -- are constantly fluid, or should be. After all, when I was 7 I wanted to be Carol Burnett. Thank goodnes some goals and dreams do pass on! For there can only be one Carol Burnett, and I'm not here.
Which leads me to what I believe is a better definition of success -- at least for me. It has nothing to do with the scoreboard or how much money one can make. There must be more dimensions of success than those scoreboards. There must be more than a dollar figure put upon someone's worth to humanity and to those around them. At least, for me, I'm learning, there must be more to it than that.
I'm not saying that one should become a boehemian and live their life on the lam and shun all things material. This is not a "sour grapes" treatise that is replacing personal failure with some type of manifesto for better living. It is, I think, a mid-life correction that simply says, life is shorter now than ever and what you do with it matters. Or at least it should.
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